I received the following email from the Cairo Embassy today. We have previously been pending "manditory security checks" but I am tentatively assuming the checks are now complete.

Dear Sir,


Thank you for your email message.


Your case is pending the officer’s review. Once the review process is completed, we will process the case to conclusion.


Regards,


Consular Staff


I am further assuming this is the final review before issuance (I'm being brave). Anyone else have any experience with this? I'm still waiting for the inquiry results from DOS. I talked with her yesterday and she said the inquiry hadn't been answered yet but she will call when it is. I'm presuming its because the case has shifted from Dept of State back to the Consulate.

I'm so sick of assuming/presuming/guessing/decoding/hoping/freaking...

It sounds good to me! Did you send them an email or did they send this on their own? I think between this and what the DOS told you other day, you should be getting some news soon

I sent an inquiry to the Embassy of my own last week.

Well I think the key words are "officer's review" so to me that would mean something has been completed. I hope you get good news soon

That sounds like good news Jean. I have my fingers crossed for you!

I would think this is good news that they are finishing it up and hope that visa will be coming soooooon!!!!!

Jean, I sure hope this is soon to be the news we've all been waiting for for you & Moh! Fingers crossed, hoping you have something good to post soon!

Maybe Rhama got the same email after her hubby went through AR? I sooo hope this is good news!!

Mohammed has his fingers in his ears and refuses to even hope. He's sick with the flu and doesn't believe the Embassy will ever be through him. I don't know how to bolster his spirits so I had hoped those who had received similar emails might share so I can PROVE to him things aren't as bad as he thinks. (Gawd, am I the only one fed up with having to PROVE everything all the time? lol)

No you are not the only one I'm also sick of answering pointless questions

I hope you have good news, tell Moh not to worry, Allah Kareem

I think you can take hope from this in this way- It's processing and there doesn;t seem to be any problems and the emailis telling you just to let it run its course. I know it is hard waiting, but it does sound like you are waiting just a little bit longer. Can;t wait to hear the good news

Just Waiting - I hope this is good news for you!!! I will keep my fingers crossed - you really deserve some good news.

Let's go Cairo!! clap clap clap clap clap

Chop Chop Buttercup!

Jean, I'm praying this is it for you.

You have waited long enough. Wishing you lots of luck.


ALLAH please help Jean & Moh bring home the VISA.....

Thank you, Yasi and everyone. That damn word "review". Wow can that strike terror into the heart. Ha ha. I kept hearing it in my sleep last night. I know this is standard procedure but makes you sweat a little.

Yasi, have you heard anything more? I hope things are moving along for the both of you as well.

Jean,

The email sounds like good news for you. Unfortunately, an Officer's Review can take several weeks or months to complete. I'm sure you are laced with patients about now, so just seat tight and wait and see what happens. I WISH YOU THE BEST!!!!!

WOW it sounds like things are still moving for you guys! You have been so patient and I am sure your wait is coming to a close soon... hang in there girl...

and no, you're not the only one getting fed up with proving/explaining things all the time, I promise you that.

amal

Jean this is very promising that your case will be finalized and wishing you good news very soon. You sure have had a long wait and we are thinking and praying for both of you.

Mary and Mian

i am wishing and hoping for u that this comes to a positive end SOON. my thoughts are with you dear.

From my understanding from our emails with Cairo last year, the officer's review happened after everything was processed in the US and sent back to the embassy.

I'm making dua for you guys!

Thank you again for the wishes. I still haven't heard back from DOS. I checked back late on Monday and she said still no reply to the inquiry. GADDDDDDDD... waiting inside of waiting of waiting inside of waiting.

The email sounds good to me. I hope, hope, hope it's good news, Jean. You've been patient long enough!

My Mohamed is just now starting to get frustrated with all this and getting worried. I'm now having to *prove* to him that our case is not moving any slower than anyone else's. How tables turn. It used to me who was the worrier.

My heart goes out to you... Mohammed has been beating me over the head since it went to the Embassy back in DECEMBER. "Are you sure I'll get the visa?" "I think they're playing games with me." "What if there's a problem?" "Well, how long did so-and-so's case take them?" "How do you know" "Are you sure?" This is NIGHTLY. After months and months of this I'm just mentally POOPED from discussing, dissecting, conjecturing, analyzing, researching, comforting, reassuring (who the hell reassures ME????) until some nights I tell him I won't discuss it.

My youngest son last night was begging him (that's a heartbreaker) to be here for his birthday in December and for Christmas. I'm sure they are near the end of this but the "what ifs" scare the hell out of me. Sure, there's nothing in his record or anything like that but there's always the fear that some flukey thing will upset the apple cart and after all these months neither of us have enough intestinal fortitude to handle much more.

I appreciate the support. I'm finding the tail end of this to be substantially more stressful then the rest of the process, believe it or not.

This is terrible but I actually haven't called my husband since Sunday because of this very reason. I just can't deal now that we're both worrying and panicking. I need a few days to chill so I can get back to the *discussions*. He calls me but we only have 2 min. conversations when he calls so no chance for discussing visas. This process is the most evil form of torture.

I'll be praying for you, Jean. Inshallah Moh will be here for your son's b-day and Christmas.

You know I was thinking about this last night. IF they just keep people somewhat informed during these long months of WAITING... send an informational packet written in simple language outlining the process, give a bit more guidance on what to expect and the whys of everything... I think it would not only make handling the stress of this easier but it would also make their jobs a bit easier because there wouldn't be so many inquiries and phone calls. VJ has been immensely helpful and the people here too, but I wonder how many people are out there who don't have much of a support system.

I completely agree. If they gave us more of a time frame or said..hey this is gonna take a year or several months and it will finish on such and such date or there abouts it would be way easier to handle. If they would answer inquiries in straight language instead of riddles that would help also.

Why the heck would an officer need to review what the US gov't has already officially declared? That part boggles my mind. Is this only little officer dude more knowledgeable than the FBI and CIA??? Like what, is he gonna have the power to say, yeah they didn't find anything but I still think there's something? I know Mohammed is all moral and stuff but even at this point won't he push a lil bageesh or whatever the heck the bribes these days are called over there to get it done a wee bit faster? I know my guy would be calling everyone and their mother to see if he knows anyone in there to get the ball rolling. Isn't Mohamed's dad in the police? I would think he'd have at least a few connections there.

OMG Jean, thanks for that laugh! Can you imagine what that would sound like?

Dear Sir/Maam,

We have done nothing on your case, please sit and wait while we take our sweet time.

Consulate

Hi Jean and everyone,

No I haven't... NVC is toying with me. They keep telling me they haven't received anything and waiting for additional security checks. How in the world can someone who has never been in US have to go through so many checks is just unrealistic. All they have from us is his name, DOB and where he is from.

I can't use the word "FRUSTRATING" anymore... I don't have a word for what I feel these days.

Hang in there Jean.... you're so close... We're all praying for you and Mohammed.

Nope, nope, nope. This is not Egyptian citizenry/government involved. This is the American government and that just ain't gonna happen. Hike up your waders, you're in for a ride. This is just the way it is. And yep its frustrating as hell.

Guys, do you really think this stage will take months?

For us, it took about 2 weeks. Hopefully they're well familiar with your case now and just need to push some papers around inshaAllah.

That's what I am thinking . . .. probably putting the visa in the passport right now . . . at least I have my fingers crossed you will hear that news very soon!!

Oh sure. Make me barf at my desk...

Jean I still have my fingers crossed for you! Any day now...

Sorry, that wasn't my intent.

No No No I was joking! I swear I was laughing at myself when I typed that.

Jean,
I just looked through all the emails I received from the embassy and I did receive basically the same email from them, I emailed them again to clarify, they sent me another email saying Khallid would have his visa in 10 days and then he had he visa in his hands 11 days later. Praying for you two!




I totally agree with you Jean. From the time I received the first promising email till Khallid had his visa I was a wreck. I didn't eat or sleep for days. It's too much of a nerve wrecker. Still don't understand why they put us through all this.

Now he wants to take ship over here... I need serious medication at this point. I'm a really patient person but its wearing thin.

Hang in there, Jean. Hold tight -- insha'allah you're almost done.

Sending you thoughts and prayers and all the mojo we've got.



-MK

This has to do with consulates and visa just not the US consulate.

Mohamed went with his BIL to the British Embassy yesterday to get a work visa (for the BIL). He got the damn thing same day! Now that just burns my asss. Mohamed said while he was waiting for his BIL he was imagining if that were him inside the US embassy getting the visa to come home to me. He said, what if I could get the visa that easily? I would be coming home to you so soon. Awwwwwwwwww...wishful thinking.

My husband wanted the same thing. But, once he takes a ship, he'll still have to take another mode of transportation once he gets to the US, so it's just much easier to get on the plane straight from Egypt.

Try telling HARDHEAD that... I'm also more comfortable knowing the airlines will be responsible for helping him get all the way to my city with anything he needs, but noooooooooooooooooooooo... menz. Blah.

A ship???? How long would THAT take????? OMG I'd be freakin' on him if he EVER suggested such an idea. Does he just like the adventure or is it a cost thing? I can't imagine it being less expensive to do a cruise from africa to the US.

send him this
link
then tell him to get on the plane

Hahahahaha. Bless you, Charles.


You know, DOS still hasn't returned my call with the result of the inquiry. Tomorrow makes it a week. Do I call 'em back? (Thinking about letting it go.)




I am a bit incensed, yes. It would take approximately one month. He says its the cost, but the truth is he's afraid to fly. He's never travelled before. I can understand his feelings. I had them too. I'm trying to be calm about this but !@#$!#$^@$!@#$!@#$!#$^!$#R!#@$. Pfft. Just get on the damn plane, man... I need you!

When the time comes, I'm sure my husband would be happy to have a chat with him about that. This trip to the US was my husband's first flight since he was little, and he managed to navigate Madrid, Chicago and Minneapolis/Saint Paul.

i would call dos again, but thats just me, id be hounding them!

We had a "discussion" tonight about this boat/flying thing. It involved 2 hang-ups and loud voices, but he finally listened to me. I may take you up on your offer Rahma if Tamer doesn't mind. I could hear the fear in his voice after he dropped all the machismo and my heart goes out to him. I know how scared I was and I know its even harder for him. Pfft. Listen to me... there's not even a visa to back this up. I need to stop putting the cart before the horse. Anyway, when/if/whatever the times comes, I think it would help him.

Jess... I'm going to call DOS on my lunch break tomorrow and see what they say. I was patient all week so I think I have a right to pester now.

I also want to add a very big thank you to everyone here for your patience with me and your support. This has been a pretty difficult week between my first week of "official employment", this doo-doo, the unnecessary fighting, the overtime hours, and jockeying the kids around every evening and battling the latest virus going around (just what I needed... a cold). I had nowhere else to turn. So really, thank you so much.